Advice

As I pursue my Level 2 WSET Advanced Certification in Wine, I decided to share with you my "8 Best Buys" for wine this season along with tasting notes and rating. I will also list my favorite wines right now regardless of expert ratings, cost, and availability (PA has limited distribution for some of these wines).

Enjoy this great seasonal Thanksgiving cocktail you can sip before, during, or after Thanksgiving dinner. You can even enjoy this elixir on Black Friday or this weekend paired with that left-over turkey sandwich and cranberry sauce.

No matter how many you consume, you'll never forget your first Harvey Wallbanger. November 8th is "National Harvey Wallbanger Day" and I am here to illustrate it's strange and intriguing history. This classic drink has made a splash in the annals of cocktail history thanks to it's unique and memorable name. According to drink mythology, it was named after a surfer in the 1950's. After losing in a surfing competition in Cali, the downtrodden surfer dude, Tom Harvey, went to his regular bar and ordered his favorite concoction - orange juice and vodka with a float of Galliano.

For those who don't drink, who aren't in the mood to drink, or maybe drank too much the night before, a well-balanced, fresh, non-alcoholic beverage with complex flavors and thirst-quenching chararcteristics can be hard to find. Drinking flavored waters, protein drinks, and drinks with low sugar and calories may be fine for some people, but it would be nice to have something more or special. A drink with a little something extra.

Arriving on the scene is the non-alcoholic cocktail known as the 'mocktail'.

Depending on where you are in the world, what you’re ordering, and type of establishment, tipping can be tricky. What is considered a bad tip? When is the tip included and when isn’t it? Is there ever a time where you shouldn’t tip well? Remember, Tipping is not a city in China!

These are all common questions that have been on people’s minds forever. Nevertheless, there’s one kind of tipping that stays pretty consistent across the board and should be: tipping a bartender.

So you're having a party or event and you're interested in hiring a Professional Bartender/Mixologist to take care of you and your guests? Great idea! But how do you evaluate professional bartenders and which service is the best for you? After all, it is a profession that many people are truly unfamiliar with. There is a lot that the common man or woman does not know. Here are the questions you should ask before you consider hiring a Professional Bartender/Mixologist. Make sure they meet all or most of these requirements.

The classic Hemingway Daiquiri is my "Cocktail of the Month", which is great for sipping by pool or at the beach. Enjoy the different takes on this classic libation, including Michael's version. Also, because I was in the Daiquiri 'spirit', I included a great You Tube video from my friend and colleague, Marsha Meyer, on making a proper classic Daiquiri - check it out. Btw, the Daiquiri, against popular belief, is not a blended frozen drink.

Thank you to my friend and writing colleague, Katelyn Green, for contributing and sharing this excellent piece on "Homemade Wine Ice Cream". Don't forget about the author, Kristen Nunez, as well. We all know how difficult the writing profession is and the importance of being recognized for good work. I assured Katelyn that my readers, audience, and both foodies and wine connoisseurs alike would love it. Please share the direct link to this piece and the awesome lifestyle blog at the end of the story for more great info. Social media links below.

Enjoy these New Orleans/Mardi Gras cocktails offered by Raise Your Spirits, Inc for your next party or event. We, at RYS, can also prepare a batch of these cocktails for a get together with your friends, co-workers, or neighbors. These concoctions are all classics, but some of them have been modified/improved to create a better cocktail experience. If had the opportunity to try them at our kickoff event a few weeks ago, you know how delicious they are. Due to copyright reasons, I have not listed the intended proportions, ratios, measurements, and mixing instructions.

After a considerable hiatus from blogging, we have returned with this special post. To all of my lovely followers and fans, thank you for sticking around. I hope you enjoy this edition filled with lovely cocktails and info even for the home bartender, whiskey connoisseur, or cocktail aficionado.

About Michael Nagy & Raise Your Spirits

Michael has been working in the bar and restaurant industry since 2000 as a head mixologist, liquid bar chef, spirits sommelier, bar manager, bar consultant, and cocktail expert. He holds an Advanced Certification in Mixology Bartending from the Professional Bartending Schools of America and is a former advanced mixology instructor at a prominent national bartending school. He has worked with many local bars and restaurants on developing cocktail menus, improving visibility, and customer service training. His cocktail book "The Cocktail Rediscovered" was released in 2007 and he currently runs a bar and cocktail website/blog here called “Tails from the Barstool”.

Michael is Owner & Operator of “Raise Your Spirits”, an elite bartending, top-shelf cocktail and beverage service, and bar consultation service in Central Pennsylvania since 2013. He has created seasonal cocktail menus for martini bars and cocktail lounges as well as for event venues, individuals, and businesses. He holds a B.S. Degree in Psychology from the University of Pittsburgh and has Master's credits in Education and Community Psychology. Michael has been writing for Chilled Magazine for over 2 years, other trade publications, and is currently contributing to "The Culture Trip", a travel, lifestyle, and culture site based in L.A. and Epicurious as a community writer. He can be followed on his site here, on Twitter @mixitup42, and Facebook at facebook.com/tailsfromthebarstool.com.

"Michael did a fantastic job with our wedding! We are not able to thank him enough for the work he did. He planned a beautiful custom menu for us, which included drinks to match our fall theme. The drinks were FANTASTIC! Our guests continue to rave about how amazing the drinks were and how quick their service was (we had a guest list of 100 people and Michael was able to keep the bar going and seldom had a line). Throughout the entire wedding planning, Michael was there to help organize, plan, and give suggestions on a complete bar menu. He was creative and great to work with. He understood our budget needs and was able to stay well within our budget while giving us a great experience. We would highly recommend Michael for any of your bar-tending needs. Thank you again Michael for all that you have done for us."

The Cocktail Rediscovered

Are you ready to take the 'bar' exam? This is the only tool you will need to raise the 'bar' for mixing drinks. Whether you are a novice bartender, who likes to play bartender at parties, or a professional bartender trying to perfect his/her craft in mixology, Learn More